Wrap carrier

ABSTRACT

An infant carrier has a wrap and a support belt allowing a wearer to secure a baby or infant on their back, side or front. The wrap has an upper pair of straps that are secured around the wearer&#39;s upper torso and a lower pair of straps that are secured around the waist of the wearer. The support belt is secured around the hips of the wearer. A zippered pouch is provided in the support belt into which the wrap may be folder for transport or storage.

TECHNICAL FIELD

Baby carriers.

BACKGROUND

There are many various infant carriers available on the market for parents and other caregivers to carry babies and infants while keeping the caregiver's hands free. Many of these are constructed with support straps going over the wearer's shoulders. There is a need for a baby carrier that is easy to use and does not put weight on the shoulders.

SUMMARY

There is provided an infant carrier comprising a wrap panel sized for supporting a child to be carried on a wearer, the wrap panel having an upper edge and lower edge, the wrap panel comprising upper and lower pairs of straps, the upper pair of straps being configured to be secured around the wearer's upper torso and the lower pair of straps being configured to be secured around the wearer's waist, a support belt connected to the lower edge of the wrap, the support belt being configured to be secured around the wearer's hips and a pouch on support belt, the pouch being configured to fully contain the wrap panel.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

Embodiments will now be described with reference to the figures, in which like reference characters denote like elements, by way of example, and in which:

FIG. 1 shows the infant carrier laid flat.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an infant carrier in a back carry position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Immaterial modifications may be made to the embodiments described here without departing from what is covered by the claims.

There is provided an infant carrier wearable by an adult caregiver to secure a baby or infant to an adult caregiver. The infant carrier comprises a wrap portion 10 and a support belt 14. The wrap portion 10 and the support belt 14 are secured to each other, preferably sewn together, at a lower edge 30 of the wrap and an upper portion of the support belt 14, for example at a location equidistant between the ends of lower straps 16.

The wrap is shown laid flat in FIG. 1. The wrap 10 has a main panel 12 with an upper edge 28 and lower edge 30. The main panel 12 may have a generally trapezoidal shape. Lower edge 30 of the main panel 12 may be curved. The main panel 12 is sized to be large enough to secure the child and still fit on the wearer's torso.

Wings at either side of the main panel 12 taper to form lower straps 16, which are preferably long enough to wrap around the wearer's waist and the child being carried one or more times. The pair of lower straps 16 are configured to be secured to each other, for example by tying.

A pair of upper straps 18 extend from and are connected to the main panel 12 at fixed ends of the upper straps 32. Fixed ends 32 are preferably sewed to the main panel near the upper edge 28 of the main panel. Each strap may be secured to the main panel equidistant from a central vertical line on the main panel. Each free end 34 is configured to secure to the other free end 34, for example by tying.

In use, the lower straps 16 wrap around the wearer at or near their waist, and the upper straps 18 wrap around the wearer's upper torso. The upper straps each extend halfway around the wearer's body and tie on the opposite side of the wearer's body to a body portion 22 of the support belt 14. The upper straps may be long enough to each wrap around the wearer's body one and a half times. The lower straps may each wrap around the wearer's body half or one and a half times. Each upper and lower strap is preferably designed to be tied to the other of the upper or lower straps for ease of use, alternatively, the upper and lower straps may be connected by other mechanical fasteners on the straps.

The upper and lower straps may taper towards the free ends steadily or unevenly, but are generally wider closer to the center of the wrap and thinner further from the center of the wrap. Alternatively, the upper and lower straps may not taper, and may have square or rounded ends.

Support belt 14 is designed to be worn below the user's waist, for example at or near the wearer's hip. The upper portion of the support belt 14 has a pouch 40 near where the support belt is secured to the wrap portion. When not in use the wrap portion may be folded into pouch 40 for transport or storage. The pouch may be closable with a zipper or other mechanical fastener. While the wrap portion is fully contained within the support belt it may be worn to provide lumbar support to the wearer for example when driving.

The support belt 14 comprises the body portion 22 and strap 42. The strap 42 is secured to one end of the body portion 22 and may be adjustably and detachably connected to the other end of the body portion 22, for example through a buckle 26 secured to the body portion 22. The buckle 26 comprises a first connector on one of the opposing straps 42 and a second connector on the other of the opposing straps 42. The length of the support belt 14 is adjustable by sliding the first connector along the strap 42, so the support belt may be secured snugly around the wearer's hips. The buckle 26 may be a male and female type buckle but other mechanical fasteners may be used such as loop buckles, D-ring buckles, hook and loop fasteners, ties, buttons, snaps, etc.

The support strap may have an additional pair of straps 44 with an adjustable and detachable connection 46, for example a buckle with a first connector on one of the additional straps 44 and a second connector on the other of the additional straps 44. The buckle may be any sort of mechanical fastener.

The support belt may be a fanny pack. The support belt may have an additional pocket 20 to hold smaller items, for example, diapers, wipes, keys and a phone.

The infant carrier is designed to keep the wearer's hands free while in use or in a stowed position. The support belt and the wrap are preferably formed of a comfortable, durable fabric material. The wrap may be padded for comfort.

Referring to FIG. 2, the wrap is designed to be used without need for shoulder straps. The infant carrier distributes the weight of the child along the torso of the adult. The carrier may be used in several configurations, and is transitional between a front carry, a side carry and a back carry position. FIG. 2 shows one possible back carry position.

In use, the child sits in and is supported by the wrap and may sit on the support strap for added support. The child's legs may be fully or partially free from the wrap on either side of the body portion of the support belt. In one method of use, the support belt is first secured to the wearer. The wrap is then wrapped around the caregiver with the infant on their back, securing first the upper straps around the wearer and then wrapping each lower strap around the wearer one and a half times. This method helps create a deeper seat for the child. The infant carrier is designed to be wrapped by the wearer without requiring outside help. The infant carrier may be put on the wearer while the wearer is holding the child.

In the claims, the word “comprising” is used in its inclusive sense and does not exclude other elements being present. The indefinite articles “a” and “an” before a claim feature do not exclude more than one of the feature being present. Each one of the individual features described here may be used in one or more embodiments and is not, by virtue only of being described here, to be construed as essential to all embodiments as defined by the claims. 

1. A child carrier comprising: a wrap panel sized for supporting a child to be carried on a wearer, the wrap panel having an upper edge and lower edge; the wrap panel comprising upper and lower pairs of straps, the upper pair of straps being configured to be secured around the wearer's upper torso and being configured to extend around or below the wearer's armpits and the lower pair of straps being configured to be secured around the wearer's waist; a support belt connected to the lower edge of the wrap, the support belt being configured to be secured around the wearer's hips; and a pouch on support belt, the pouch being configured to fully contain the wrap panel.
 2. The child carrier of claim 1 in which the upper pair of straps is configured to be secured by tying.
 3. The child carrier of claim 1 in which the lower pair of straps is configured to be secured by tying.
 4. The child carrier of claim 3 in which each of the lower straps wraps is long enough to wrap around the wearer one and a half times.
 5. The child carrier of claim 1 in which the support belt is secured around the wearer by an adjustable buckle.
 6. The child carrier of claim 1 in which the wrap panel is generally trapezoidal in shape.
 7. The child carrier of claim 1 in which the lower edge of the wrap is curved.
 8. The child carrier of claim 1 in which the pouch on the support belt is zippered.
 9. The child carrier of claim 1 further comprising a second pouch on the support belt.
 10. The child carrier of claim 1 in which the pouch being configured to provide lumbar support when the pouch fully contains the wrap panel. 